Facing marriage objection from my mum because of tribe and age

Q: I’m a man who will be 30 in October and I have been in a relationship with a woman from Abia State who will be 30 as well in October (three weeks before me). The problem however is, my mum says she isn’t my wife, that I can’t get married to her because she is Abriba and too old. Please advise me on what to do. I love my mum and want to make her happy but I also love this lady and would love to get married to her. [First published on 18 January 2009]

The Bible commands believers to only marry believers (2 Corinthians 6:14) and secondly God only recognises three distinct people groups: Jews, Church of God and Gentiles (1 Corinthians 10:32)  Therefore her ethnicity  is NOT a valid scriptural reason. There are many marriages where the couple are of the same age, others where the wife is older than the husband and yet others in which the man is much older than the woman. 

Age difference is a matter of personal preference and should be agreeable to both parties. At 30, one would expect you to be able to take decisions with the Bible and the Holy Spirit as Guides (and of course with godly counsel). It appears you are still a boy and Genesis 2:24 states a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Marriage is for men and women NOT boys and girls.